The Padres have high hopes this year, and so far it looks like the money they spent in the off-season is paying dividends. They come into tonight's home game versus Arizona trailing the NL West leading Rockies by just a half a game. They are a heavy favorite in tonight's game, but a mismatch on the mound should prove to be worth the price.

Andrew Cashner will toe the slab for the home team, and he's looking to bounce back from a loss at Los Angeles in his season debut. Cashner is a different pitcher at home though, so there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about tonight's start. The 28 year old was 4-3 with a 1.43 ERA in 11 starts at Petco last year, and 12-9 with a 2.11 ERA over the last three seasons. Given the added talent on the team's roster, he could improve on those numbers this year.

The D'Backs hand the ball to Rubby De La Rosa, who was rocked in his debut. The 26 year old was torched for six runs on eight hits over just 5 1/3 innings in a home loss to the Giants in his first start. He wasn't particularly sharp in the spring either, going 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA. The most troubling stat for Rubby this spring was the 12 walks in just 20 innings of work.

The Padres look well worth the money at home tonight.

Take SD.

GL,

Jesse Schule